Shadows Of Oppression
We are like pearls, shiny and precious.
~Maji
Hibba
The West
En route to Saba
Hibba received two cloth wrappers and was instructed to tie one over her chest and the other around her waist. Her silky robe was taken away, leaving her half-naked, yet it provided more modesty than the sheer garment she arrived in. A meager meal of dry bread and a cup of water was given to her, and she sat quietly in a corner of the infirmary, consuming the sustenance in silence.
The confesser arrived shortly, escorting her to join a group of other girls similarly dressed. Glancing around, Hibba hoped to spot her sister or Simsa among them, but none of the faces looked familiar. In hushed trepidation, they sat together, avoiding any unnecessary noise.